El peix zebra com a sistema model per a l'estudi de les malalties humanes

Authors

  • Andrea Durán
  • Hernán López-Schier

Abstract

The zebrafish as a model system for the study of human pathologies. The potential of studying human pathologies in model organisms has grown substantially over the past few years. The shared evolutionary history among all vertebrates allows the use of genetically modified organisms to model human diseases that cannot be studied in vitro. It also facilitates the study of multifactorial complex pathologies that in humans present differences in expressivity and penetrance, which complicates their characterization. Studies in several model organisms have demonstrated that genes products that direct the development and assembly of tissues and organs are also involved in common genetic and congenital diseases. Additionally, technological developments permit the modeling of rare diseases in model organisms. In this chapter we will try to demonstrate that the zebrafish is a model that presents several qualities that make it ideal for this kind of studies. In particular, we will present some neurodegenerative diseases and loss of hearing and balance as examples. Finally, we will discuss the use of the zebrafish for studies on the regeneration of sensory cells.

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Published

2012-01-19